NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
May 26, 2010

EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY FANS CAN TAKE THE RIDE FOR LIFE THIS SATURDAY

PHENIX CITY, AL – Race fans that attend the Salute To The Armed Forces 50 for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour at East Alabama Motor Speedway this Saturday night will get a rare opportunity to be a part of the high speed action, and at the same time benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society by placing a bid for “The Ride For Life.”

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be bringing their specially built two-seat dirt late model race car to help raise much needed funding for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Six drivers will volunteer their time and talent to take five lucky fans for a six-lap ride around East Alabama Motor Speedway at race speed.

During intermission, race fans will have the opportunity to place a bid to ride with their favorite driver during a special auction. The highest bidder for each driver will then suit up, strap on a helmet, climb into the passenger seat of the two-seater right next to their favorite driver behind the steering wheel, buckle up and hang on for The Ride For Life.

During their Ride For Life, the winning race fans will get a rare opportunity to feel the g-forces as the driver slings the race car into the turns of the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval sideways at over 100 miles per hour. They can hear the roar of the GM Performance 400 horsepower racing engine and smell the rubber burning off the Hoosier Racing Tires.

The line up drivers volunteering their time are well-known to race fans of East Alabama Motor Speedway, and in addition to helping to raise money for the American Cancer Society, they will also be competing with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour vying for the $2,500 top prize in the Salute To The Armed Forces 50.

William Thomas of Phenix City, AL has a helmet full of victories at East Alabama Motor Speedway, including two NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National wins as a part of his four career victories with the series. Thomas already has one win this season with the National Tour, taking the season opener in January at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS.

Larry Harrod of Plains, GA was the 2009 EAMS NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion, and was the 2009 Runner-Up in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region. For 2010, “The Big Tree” is competing with the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour, is eighth in the point standings, and third in the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year standings.

Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL has two wins in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition this season at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The 17-year-old “Young Gun” is the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader coming into the weekend.

Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL has five wins at East Alabama Motor Speedway in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition this season, including the last four in-a-row. The “Rocketman” is currently second in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings.

Rides with two local legends in dirt late model racing will also be up for auction to take two high bidding fans for the Ride For Life. “The Master Of Going Faster” Dana Eiland of Salem, AL, and the “Phenix City Assassin” Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL will be a part of the Ride For Life auction with 100 percent of all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

Not only are these six drivers volunteering their time and talent for help benefit the American Cancer Society, but many NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS sponsors, and racing businesses have also donated to the cause. Like any other race car, the Ride For Life two-seater requires the same maintenance and upkeep.

Dominator Race Products of Toledo, OH has donated the nose piece, front fenders, and roof for the Ride For Life car. RPI Race Products has donated several components for the Ride For Life Car. Maximum Signs and Graphics of Corinth, MS has designed and donated a special American Cancer Society wrap for the Ride For Life car, and J.T. Racing Equipment of Rockford, TN has donated a fuel cell for the Ride For Life car that carries the VP CHP Racing Fuel.

“We’re excited to be a part of the "Ride For Life" program in conjunction with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competitors, officials and the fans at East Alabama Motor Speedway,” Track spokesman Beverly Thompson said. “The money raised at this event will support the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives, helping those touched by cancer, and empowering people to fight back against the disease.”

This will be the third year the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series “Ride For Life” two-seat race car will be a part of the program at East Alabama Motor Speedway. Last year was a record setting night with one race fan bidding $1,000 to ride with local favorite Dana Eiland in the “Ride For Life” two-seater dirt late model car. The total donations for the night were over $2,500 that went straight to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for cancer.

“Just about everyone has had an experience themselves, or has had a family member or a close friend that has been affected by cancer, and we want to do our part to help find a cure for all forms of cancer,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series President of Operations and Communications Roby Helm said. “It’s going to take research and education to find a cure and that costs money, so we all need to do whatever we can to raise the money.”

Helm said the series has had bids for these rides over $1,000, and to those that have bid that amount of money, it was well worth it because not only did they give to a worthwhile cause, but they also got the thrill of a lifetime by getting a ride in a real dirt late model at race speed. Some of the lap times this “Ride For Life” car will turn around the race track are good enough for a top ten qualifying time!

“There is a lot of money, research, technology, and talent that goes into putting a dirt late model race car on the track for competition,” Helm said. “The competitors, officials, track promoters, and fans of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series are happy to take time out from this competition, and use these resources to help a worthwhile cause by supporting the American Cancer Society.”
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competitors will do battle in Qualifications, Qualifying Races, and the 50-lap main event this Saturday night with gates opening at 4 p.m., and racing scheduled for 8 p.m. For more information visit the track web site at www.eamsdirt.com, or the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS web site at www.nesmithracing.com.